pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 0:50:23 GMT -5
1. Ferret's name: Thackery (8 Weeks) 2. Ferret's weight: 582 gras 3. Ferret's Daily Medications: N/A 4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: Didn't weigh it, but he eats unlimited 5. Stools on various proteins: Poop is a bit soft and seedy. Transitioning poop 6. Activity levels: Alternates between extreme activity and passing out for a nap. Getting more active than he was the first week 7. Weekly menu: Mostly grinds, some bone in days, trying to edit and get it right
1. Ferret's name: Binx (12 Weeks) 2. Ferret's weight: 895 grams 3. Ferret's Daily Medications: N/A 4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: Didn't weigh it, but he eats unlimited 5. Stools on various proteins: Still a little seedy but now good consistency 6. Activity levels: Extremely active. When out, war dances around the house. 7. Weekly menu: See Thackery
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Post by LindaM on Oct 8, 2017 14:31:27 GMT -5
How are the wee snooters doing today?
Okay, so I confirmed with one of the admins, that if you feed the Whole Ground animal grinds from MPC those should be balanced just fine. Though as for something like the Tripe Supermix, that isn't exactly necessary for them to eat, I mean, it's definitely good for the digestive system so all the more power to you with Thackery who will eat it. But there isn't a need to try and force Binx to eat it, since as mentioned before, most ferrets will just avoid tripe entirely.
How do you feel about ordering something like the rabbit chunks or whole rabbit from MPC? You can always chop up the pieces smaller if they give you issues, or with something like the whole animal that's too big for just two ferrets at once. It will allow them to have another bone-in protein they're already used to eating, and the actual bone will be good for their teeth.
Also, you mention Thackery will eat Whole Prey, what has he had before? Would you like to feed them some Whole Prey in their menu?
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 16:16:23 GMT -5
They're good~ Cool! And I know it's not necessary, I just like to add a spoonful for Thackery once and awhile Since he really does seem to like it. I don't plan on making Binx eat it though. I could do that, but not until next month. I've used my MPC budget for this paycheck already. But I am willing to get a whole rabbit when I have the money~ And yes, he has had a couple hopper mice. I would love to feed them more whole prey, but so far Binx won't eat it.
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Post by LindaM on Oct 8, 2017 16:24:38 GMT -5
That's totally fine hon. I just wanted to see if you are open to the idea in the first place. We all understand budgets.. believe you me. My furkids have been eating us out of house and home the last month.. winter, man.. winter! While lovely and I can't wait for the snows and it being my favorite season... it has turned my lot into face-stuffing gobblers, including the cat, who screams at us if we don't feed him enough whenever he wants to be fed. Monster, he needs to learn some manners I think.
Hmm, have you tried chopping up the hopper for Binx? Maybe use a wee drop of salmon oil on the pieces and see how that goes?
Do you guys have any farmer's markets nearby or ones that happen maybe once a month in the area? I know you said there weren't any Asian/Ethnic markets though. Were there any of those perhaps an hour or two's drive from you guys? The one I go to is like an hour from home for us, deeper into the city, so I tend to make it an every other month's drive and simply stock the freezer best as I can when I do go.
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 16:38:18 GMT -5
Yep I'm open to it! My cat is still on kibble. He REFUSES to even eat wet food :/ or canned tuna. So raw... It's kinda out of the question, sadly. But I buy Acana haha. I can try that next time I get hoppers~ Four hours for the nearest ethnic market. And that's on good roads, we'll have snow by the end of he month. I it was just an hour or two that might be more doable but... We have farmers markets once a month for part of the year, problem is... They stop in September because of how the weather gets.
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Post by LindaM on Oct 8, 2017 17:12:31 GMT -5
Awesome! That's good to hear.
Aww, you're not alone hon. I'm trying to switch our cat, Hades. He's been a beast, it's soooo much work, but there are members on here with raw-fed cats, so it gives me hope and I keep on trying. I got him off the kibbles and onto wet food only (took me months and a ton of work), he's doing loads better than he did on kibble. I buy Wild Calling which is 96% meat, and I've used some NV Instinct canned, a bit wary about that one as I've seen sharp bone shards in them before and actually cut myself on a piece before. I've also given Hounds & Gatos, which also has a high meat percentage I think. Hades will also eat FDR Chicken Hearts... won't touch the fresh raw thing though, LOL. He'll also munch any FDR treats from Orijen or bits of S&C FDR. I used Cheddar Cheese and like some of the little cheese packets from Olive Garden, I think it's Romano, just a sprinkle. And to get him to eat pate wet food, I actually had to trick him with a can of Blue Wilderness Alligator dog food, but after that can, he was happy to eat the cans of wet cat food pates.
OUCH! Darn, that is quite the drive. Yeah, winter is coming on fast, our mountains are getting snow-capped again this weekend. Pity, it may have been better doable in the summer, so that's out I guess.
Crap, well, there goes that idea too. I guess we're gonna be stuck on ordering online. Sorry hon.
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 18:01:05 GMT -5
The cat won't eat wet. I've even tried mixing it, and I find the bits of wet food meat tossed onto the floor next to the dish. That's where the dog gets them LOL He won't eat freeze dried raw either, I've tried it. Once again, they just get tossed out. Monkey is a BRAT. It's also hard because I caretake for disabled family members, so I would need to take them and I'm not sure they could handle a drive like that even in the summer. Even when we go in good weather I need to bring people to help me. So sadly... I'm stuck with online and what's in my small town
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Post by LindaM on Oct 8, 2017 18:08:42 GMT -5
Do you free feed your kibble? Like, is it always available in his reach to eat? If so, you should stop. Offer the kibble bowl only AT a certain time, and FOR a certain time, then take it back. This will get him onto an eating schedule, so he'll be hungry for the times you do offer food. It's often one of the first steps, in a long, slow process.
Ah, I understand, that's hard. But hey, at least there is online then!
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 18:10:58 GMT -5
I don't free feed. He's in an eating schedule to keep his weight down (he's getting chunky in his old age). But wet food still gets an upturned nose.
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2017 18:17:27 GMT -5
Pork bone are often too heavy for most ferrets to eat so searching that out is probably not a good idea anyway Look for things like rabbit, quail, duck, pheasant...these are bones that a ferret can eat. Think about things that your ferret would be able to hunt and take down. A polecat might scavenge a boar but it would never hunt it. Beaver is good lol...mink would hunt this. So every time you step out of that parameter you're going to have to supplement. Many years ago I used to use the occasional commercial grind which gave my guys a chance at some more novel proteins. I have some ferrets who will not eat their organ meats or some who will eat everyone's organ meats so I mix their organ meats in the grinds that I feed through the week. My organ mixture is fed over the week. If you feed a mixture of bone in grinds and some that do not (I used to feed lamb that wasn't) just make sure your completed menu matches the outline. Try not to get dragged down in the minor numbers. ciao
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Post by LindaM on Oct 8, 2017 18:17:37 GMT -5
Hmm.. okay. How many times a day do you feed him? Does he have any specific health concerns? Or just old age? ; P
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 8, 2017 18:47:30 GMT -5
Heather I've been looking what kind of sucks is that there just isn't a lot of that in town. I can find chicken and game hen, which I know is really just chicken. Maybe I could find turkey wings. That's why I mainly go with bone in grinds, which all the grinds from mypetcarnivore are. It's the best way to get variety, but I worry about their teeth. It's hard to find variety in bones they can crunch. LindaM Twice a day, AM and PM. He has a very sensitive stomach. Acana and Halo are the only things that he doesn't throw up, and he's about 12/13. So not old old as cats go but he's getting up there.
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Post by Heather on Oct 9, 2017 1:31:15 GMT -5
I would suggest starting him on a tooth brushing regime, which should be considered if he only eats grinds. To be honest though if you can get a bone in meal 3x a week that is whole meats that should be enough to avert having to actually brush. Work with Linda to get your balance correct and you should be good ciao
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Post by LindaM on Oct 9, 2017 13:32:31 GMT -5
So quick question, do you have any issues when feeding the fuzzers some heart or organs? Do either of them try to be fussy and not eat it by themselves? Or are we good on that front?
Also, just wondering, I know your town is pretty boneless (hehe), but have you seen any chicken feet perhaps in the stores? I have an idea how we might temporarily add a bit of extra faux variety to cut down on too much of the game hen, but if you don't have those available, we will try a different approach.
As for kitty cat.. hm.. doesn't Halo also make a canned cat food? Have you given that one a shot before? Sometimes they can be very picky and might take to a specific brand. I kid you not.. when I was trying to get Hades onto his wet food, I pretty much bought some from every brand under the sun, just to see if any would have better success, and to see which made him throw up more and which made it happen less when he actually ate some.
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on Oct 9, 2017 16:20:59 GMT -5
We're good on that! Both scarf down kidney, liver, and pancreas No chicken feed sadly Walmart used to carry them months ago but stopped They do but Monkey doesn't like it xDD
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